Page 16 of Sombra
“Thank you. I practice with a friend.”
My eyes focus back on the road. We roll down the windows of my car and watch the countryside go by.
“It’s so gorgeous,” she says under her breath. Then she turns to me. “Are we in the same classes?”
“Yes, we will be. Translation classes include all levels of proficiency.”
She nods, seemingly pleased. “When do you graduate?”
“The end of this year. You?”
“Same. Do you know what you want to do?”
How do I answer that? “I don’t have a job lined up after. I’m to work on the family farm.”
“I don’t know what I want to do either. There’s too many things.” Afaraway haze comes over her face. She adjusts her seat back so it reclines slightly and settles in. The way she moves is so pretty. Her fingers lift and rest gently on the door, her elbow outside, then begin gliding with the wind.
“We have a few hours before we get to Granada. Do you have a request for music?”
“I want to hear a Spanish singer,” she says. “Please. Nothing I’ve heardbefore.”
Hitting a radio button, I recognize the music filling the space immediately, but she cocks her ear to the side. “Who is this?”
“Alejandro Sanz.” Without hesitation, I sing along with him. Everyone sings along with Alejandro. “You might know him from a Shakira song.”
She licks her lips. “You sing well.”
I wave off the compliment. “In Spain, we sing.” But itmeans more to me to sing. It means a connection with mi padre and my history.
“Do you dance, too?”
I nod gravely. “Por supuesto.” I’ll have to dance with her. She blinks and then yawns. I begin to tell her about the different kinds of dance—flamenco,paso doble,bolero,zambra,fandango,zarzuela.
The kilometers pass by.
Then I take my eyes off the road and check thepassenger seat.La guiriis fast asleep, her head against the seat cushion. Poorguapita, so exhausted from travel. I think of how I’d sketch her face.
She must trust me to fall asleep so fast. To be comfortable in my company.
I’m not sure what I’ve gotten myself into, but I know I really like it.
When we arriveat my family home, I put the car in park by the main house and turn off the ignition. The lovely sleeping girl in my passenger seat doesn’t wake up. She sighs, a smile playing on her lips. Her eyelids flicker.
I get out of the car. Soon enough, my family will start swarming. I come around to her side and open the door, then reach over toundo her seatbelt. She stirs, her blinking eyes just centimeters away. Her mouth so close. I look down. The lace of her bra peeks out from her blouse. She moans a little, with cute drool trailing down her lush lips.
I could just kiss her.
“We’re here?” she asks, yawning sleepily, showing straight white teeth and a delectable tongue.
How long I can resist this temptation?
